The German Labour Court has waded into the matter regarding the termination of the contract of Anwar El Ghazi by FSV Mainz 05 on November 3, 2023.
The court has ruled that the termination of El Ghazi’s contract was invalid and as such there is no grounds for it.
Anwar El Ghazi Gets Positive Judgement In Legal Battle Against Mainz 05
Judge Chowdury at the Labour Court has also ordered Mainz 05 to pay El Ghazi’s salary for the nine months since the former Aston Villa man’s contract was halted on November 3, 2023.
The total sum is understood to be €1.7million and they must also allow the forward, who has a year left on his contract, to return to work at the club.
Mainz 05 and El Ghazi are expected to now work together to find a settlement agreement before the latter can be released.
Why Was Anwar El Ghazi’s Contract Terminated?
Anwar El Ghazi was initially suspended by Mainz 05 on October 17, 2023, due to a deleted post on social media which was thought to be pro-Palestine.
After the post shared by El Ghazi, Mainz 05 proceeded to lift his suspension on Monday, October 30, 2023, before dismissing him 4 days later.
Following the termination of his contract, Anwar El Ghazi took to social media on Friday, November 3, 2023, to express his unflinching support for Palestine.
He wrote: “The loss of my livelihood is nothing when compared to the hell being unleashed on the innocent and vulnerable in Gaza #stopthekilling.”
The statement shared by Mainz 05 confirming the dismissal of El Ghazi also read: “FSV Mainz 05 is ending the contractual relationship with Anwar El Ghazi and terminated the player with immediate effect on Friday.”
When Did Anwar El Ghazi Institute Legal Action Against Mainz 05?
On November 15, 2024, it was then revealed that El Ghazi had opted to take legal action against Mainz 05 over his contract termination due to his comments on the Israel-Hamas war.
The Bundesliga side subsequently revealed that they had been briefed about the case by Anwar El Ghazi’s legal team.
Mainz 05 took their decision against the Dutchman because they felt the footballer took a “position on the conflict in the Middle East in a manner that wasn’t tolerable for the club”.
His social media post which incensed the German club included the controversial phrase “from the river to the sea”.
Who Is Anwar El Ghazi?
Anwar El Ghazi is a Dutch professional footballer who was last contracted to German Bundesliga side Mainz 05.
El Ghazi has amassed 301 appearances thus far in his career, playing for notable teams like Aston Villa, Everton, Ajax, Lille, and PSV Eindhoven.
His Position?
El Ghazi functions primarily as a right winger, but he can also be utilized as a left winger and at the center-forward position.
Personal Details And Career Stats
He was born in Barendrecht, Netherlands on May 3, 1995, and the 29-year-old has scored 64 goals and provided 39 assists thus far in his football career.
Internationally, El Ghazi has made 2 appearances for the Netherlands, scoring no goal and providing 1 assist.
El Ghazi’s Achievement
He has also had a relatively good career in terms of trophies, winning 1 KNVB Cup and 1 Johan Cruyff Shield.
Anwar El Ghazi’s Last Game For Mainz 05 Before His Contract Was Terminated
His last game for Mainz 05 before his suspension was a 2-2 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach on October 6, 2023.
El Ghazi provided an assist 5 minutes after coming on in the affair, setting up Aymen Barkok in the 75th minute.
Anwar El Ghazi joined Mainz 05 on a free transfer on September 22, 2023. He made only 3 appearances for the club and provided 1 assist before his contract was terminated.
Mainz 05’s Stance After The Court Judgement
Moreover, reports indicate that Mainz claim they will evaluate the reasons for the judge’s decision before deciding whether to appeal.
The judge had previously delivered a settlement proposal on June 21, 2024, which had been opposed by Mainz, who instead preferred to see a verdict done in court.
Anyway, it will be interesting to see the impact that the court decision will have on El Ghazi’s contract, whether he will be reinstated, or if Mainz 05 will appeal the ruling.
